Chapter 35 Commodore Luffy's Challenge of Taking OfficeAs a transmigrator, Luffy knew the backgrounds of these two men inside and out.
It would be a waste of his foresight not to fleece these two rich guys completely.
And Buggy, while lacking in strength, was a perfect tool due to his background and status.
Whether it was the aura of being a Roger crew member or the influence of the Shanks, he was more than capable of navigating both the legitimate and criminal worlds, easily replacing Doflamingo as the middleman.
The only thing he lacked was a legitimate official identity.
As long as he dealt with Crocodile, that crocodile, and gave Garp and Sengoku a heads-up beforehand,
he wouldn't have to worry about Beli anymore; he could build as many warships as he wanted!
Sengoku, of course, was unaware that his seemingly harmless nephew had already set his sights on the two Shichibukai.
He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, pondering for a moment.
"The bounty can be revoked; it's not a big deal."
"But forget about becoming a Shichibukai. That position is one-off; they won't create a new one just for him."
"Besides, Buggy doesn't have the strength or influence to command respect."
"However..." Sengoku changed the subject, "As long as he doesn't actively attack civilians or Marines, I can talk to my subordinates and let them turn a blind eye."
Buggy's eyes nearly popped out of his head; his elation was palpable.
What's the difference between this treatment and being a Shichibukai?
It's practically a license to "legally plunder pirate treasure"!
Luffy nodded in satisfaction: "Alright, that's enough for me."
Luffy's mind was racing with calculations.
Once things are settled here, he'll go back to Alabasta and have a "heart-to-heart" with Crocodile.
As a Marine, Robin certainly wouldn't throw herself at him.
"Since that's the case, let's absorb Baroque Works first, then figure out a way to lure that cunning and shrewish Robin over."
Hmm... Plan succeeds, perfect!
"Well, Uncle Sengoku, you're busy, I'll be off!"
"Oh, right, old man, I brought you a gift."
"This is the former East Blue Navy genius sniper. I've brought him back. You give him a good training session; my ship is short-handed."
After Luffy finished speaking, without thinking twice, he casually pushed Daddy and Carol, father and daughter, in front of Garp.
Then, before anyone could react, he vanished in a flash.
Garp stared blankly at the somewhat embarrassed father and daughter for a couple of seconds, then grinned widely.
"That brat, always causing me trouble."
Sengoku rolled his eyes, mercilessly exposing him: "Come on, you're grinning from ear to ear, but you don't seem to mind the trouble."
Garp chuckled, turning to Dadi, his gaze sharp.
"Dadi with a kid? Former East Blue Navy's number one genius sniper, lieutenant."
"Because he lost a duel with Yasopp of the Red-Haired Pirates, he never recovered and left the Navy to become a bounty hunter?"
Garp rattled off Dadi's background as if it were second nature.
"Yosophop?"
Upon hearing the name, Sengoku frowned slightly, somewhat surprised. "The chief sniper of the Red-Haired Pirates?"
Garp nodded, a hint of regret in his voice.
"Back then, I also sent Smoker to persuade that kid to rejoin the crew, but he flatly refused."
"I never expected that in the end, it would be my grandson who convinced him."
Dadi watched the irresponsible Luffy abandon him and run off, his heart filled with bitterness.
He hesitated before saluting Garp: "Vice Admiral Garp, Commander Luffy promised to guarantee my daughter's safety..."
Garp lowered his head, glancing at the little girl clinging to his trouser leg.
The precocious little girl, Carol, raised her delicate and adorable face, blinking her bright, watery eyes, and sweetly called out:
"Hello, Grandpa Garp!"
That "Grandpa" was like a sugar-coated bullet, instantly piercing through Garp's defenses.
Garp grinned from ear to ear, his face crinkling into a wide smile.
"Hello, hello! Oh my, this girl is so pretty!"
"From now on, you're my granddaughter, Garp's granddaughter!"
He pointed to Sengoku, who stood beside him with a dark expression.
"This strange old man with a head full of braids is your great-grandfather!"
"From now on, you'll live with your great-grandfather in a big house in the backyard. Let's see who in the Marine Headquarters dares to bully you!"
Having been called "old man" by Luffy and his gang of troublemakers every day, suddenly having such a well-behaved and sensible little girl call him grandpa, Garp felt as sweet as if he'd drunk honey.
Sengoku rolled his eyes speechlessly, but didn't bother to argue.
Ever since Luffy joined the Marines, this old geezer Garp seemed to have been given a second spring, even his work enthusiasm had increased considerably.
Raising a little girl was such a trivial matter, let him be.
Dadi was filled with unbelievable joy.
Originally, he only wanted to secure a safe future for his daughter, but he never expected to have directly secured the protection of the two most powerful figures in the Marine Headquarters!
With these two men protecting her, as long as Carol didn't destroy the Marine Headquarters building, she could basically live a life of luxury in Marineford.
Dadi trembled with excitement, giving Garp and Sengoku a perfect military salute, his voice slightly choked with emotion.
"Your subordinate is ready at any time! Always prepared for battle!"
Garp nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand.
"Alright, enough with the formalities. You're coming with me in a bit; I'll take you to see that old geezer, Zephyr."
"Your talent has been wasted for too long; he needs to loosen your skin and get it back."
Dadi's joy deepened upon hearing this; he could hardly believe his ears.
Former Marine Admiral, "Black Arm" Zephyr!
That's the entire Marine's chief instructor!
The current three admirals of the Navy are all Zeff's personal disciples!
To be trained under Zeff was something Dadi could only dream of back then.
At this moment, Dadi deeply felt that he had truly chosen the right person to follow.
No wonder he's Vice Admiral Garp's grandson; his network of connections is simply terrifying!
...
The next day, at noon.
Marineford, symbolizing the highest authority in the Navy, witnessed an unprecedented scene of bustling activity.
The vast Crescent Bay Plaza was packed with people, and banners blotted out the sun.
Countless naval soldiers in white uniforms stood in neat square formations, like a white steel forest.
Reporters from various news agencies, carrying long lenses and short cannons—video Den Den Mushi (snail phone devices) specifically for broadcasting the scene—focused intently on the formations below.
Those standing in the core area of this plaza were at least junior officers, elite soldiers.
The junior officers wore coats emblazoned with the word "Justice" on the back, their expressions solemn.
The officers of the rank of colonel and above, however, were quite distinctive, their "Justice" coats adorned with various casual clothes, exuding a menacing aura.
While the sheer number of soldiers couldn't compare to the future Marineford War,
a glance around revealed that the plaza was unmistakably filled with the backbone of the Navy!
At this moment, the scene on the plaza was being broadcast live worldwide.
This was unlike the Marineford War, which was only broadcast from the Sabaody Archipelago to cover up its shortcomings.
This time, the Navy was determined to flex its muscles.
Whether in bustling cities across the seas, the chaotic New World, or even nations that had seceded from the World Government, the astonishing scene was being broadcast simultaneously.
People worldwide were incredulous.
"Hey, has the Navy gone mad?"
"For a mere commodore's investiture ceremony, they've made such a spectacle?"
On an unnamed island in the New World.
Marco and the captains of the Whitebeard Pirates sat around a screen, marveling at the live stream.
Looking at the densely packed ranks of colonels and lieutenants, even they felt a chill run down their spines.
No wonder it's the largest violent organization to dominate the seas for eight hundred years.
Just considering the fighting strength of its lower and middle ranks, unless the Four Emperors joined forces, it would be impossible to confront them head-on.
After all, most pirates are self-taught, a mixed bag of skill.
The Navy, however, possesses a complete and rigorous standardized training system, capable of producing combat power continuously like an assembly line.
"Gurrrararara!"
Whitebeard, holding a huge sake jug, tilted his head back and took a swig, letting out a hearty laugh.
"It's definitely not just a simple award ceremony."
"Nobody knows what that old fox Sengoku is up to. After all, he's known as the 'Strategist.'"
As he spoke, the scene shifted.
Sengoku, wearing a Fleet Admiral's coat, led Garp, Vice Admiral Tsuru, and other high-ranking officers, slowly ascended the platform.
Attentive viewers would notice that the three Admirals were absent, and even the renowned Vice Admirals were nowhere to be seen.
Clearly, to prevent pirates from taking advantage of the situation to attack the branch, these top combatants had been deployed to bases around the world.
The camera finally focused on Sengoku's imposing face.
Sengoku, megaphone in hand, his gaze sharp and intense, swept over the tens of thousands of officers below, his expression more serious than ever before.
"War is imminent!"
Sengoku's first words were like a thunderclap, shaking the entire world.
Everyone held their breath, trying to decipher the deeper meaning behind his words.
"Cowards who want to desert, get out of here now!"
"On this square, not a single trace of cowardice will be tolerated!"
Sengoku's voice, transmitted through the Den Den Mushi, resounded deafeningly across the world.
"We are the bastion of peace in the pirate era!"
"The weakness of the people is not their fault!"
"Justice! It is here!"
"As long as a powerful evil force exists on the seas, we, the Navy, will drive it out at all costs! We will crush it!"
Sengoku took a deep breath, looked at the silent, iron-willed Navy formation below, raised his fist, and roared:
"In the name of absolute justice!!"
BOOM—!
The Navy soldiers below were instantly ignited with fervor. Tens of thousands raised their weapons simultaneously, unleashing a deafening roar.
"Hah!!!"
The sound waves surged like a tidal wave, soaring into the sky, as if shattering the heavens themselves.
"That old guy..."
Whitebeard looked at the impassioned figure on the screen and shook his head helplessly.
No wonder he wanted to broadcast it globally.
These words were Sengoku's true purpose.
He was giving the world a shot in the arm, declaring the Navy's presence to the people suffering under pirate oppression.
Furthermore, he was sowing the seeds of rebellion against pirates in the restless islands of the New World.
Pirates are evil, the Navy is justice.
This was an unquestionable truth in the eyes of the ordinary people.
But Sengoku, through this live broadcast, amplified this opposition between "justice" and "evil" to an extreme degree.
With this groundwork laid in public opinion, the Navy's subsequent advance into the New World would face at least half the resistance.
On the high platform, Sengoku pressed his hands down, silencing the cheers of the soldiers below.
He continued loudly, "This isn't just an award ceremony, it's a live-fire military exercise!"
"Next, our newly appointed Rear Admiral of the Marine Headquarters, the Marine Supernova—Monkey D. Luffy—will accept the challenge for promotion from the entire army!"
"Any officer of the field rank who can defeat Rear Admiral Luffy will be promoted one rank! Their salary will double!"
Wow!
These words caused an uproar throughout the hall.
The eyes of all the field rank officers present instantly lit up, like a pack of hungry wolves spotting a piece of fat meat.
Originally, they only wanted to give this parachuted-in officer a hard time, to teach this arrogant supernova a lesson.
Unexpectedly, such a windfall had fallen from the sky?
Promotion and wealth were within reach!
Luffy, who hadn't even entered yet, heard this and his face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
Damn it! This is ruthless!
While not as extravagant as the 100,000 elite troops at Marineford, there were still at least several hundred officers of colonel rank in this plaza, right?
Were they planning to let him cut down everything from the Southern Heavenly Gate to the Eastern Road of Penglai without batting an eye?
Zoro, on the other hand, seemed to thrive on chaos, giving Luffy a thumbs-up, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Go, Luffy! Let them see what true swordsmanship is!"
Nami, furious, punched Zoro on the head, making a sharp "thud."
"Are you an idiot? Those are hundreds of Marine Headquarters colonels! Not hundreds of cabbages!"
"What are you afraid of? You haven't seen how truly terrifying this guy is."
Sanji, standing nearby, lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and looked completely relaxed.
"When Hawkeye cleaved the sea in two with that strike, this guy didn't even flinch."
"Nami, don't underestimate your captain!"
Luffy: "..."
Damn it! You bunch of idiots!
In the stands, three old guys, all over fifty, were huddled together whispering.
"Hey, Garp, are you sure Luffy's little body can handle that?"
"Don't worry! That's my grandson, whom I personally trained. He's tough as nails!"
"You're kidding me. You can train a swordsman who would make Hawkeye admit defeat?"
"Uh... to be honest, I don't remember Luffy ever practicing swordsmanship. But back in the East Blue, his sword intent was really strange. As long as the sword didn't break, even I was immobilized."
"That's incredible? He doesn't seem to have mastered Haki yet, right? What if the sword breaks during the fight?"
"Didn't the Black Cat Pirates' prisoners say that this guy can seemingly unleash sword intent out of thin air? It shouldn't be a problem, and besides, can't this kid also swim?"
"Win or lose, this time we'll let the world see the strength of our headquarters' younger generation. I believe those brats who want to set sail will have to think twice before they see this."
If Luffy knew that these three old rascals were counting all his one-time trial abilities as permanent strength...
He'd probably be so angry he'd vomit blood, yelling, "Damn it! That was a temporary cheat! It expired ages ago!"
Luckily, this time the attack was limited to officers of the rank of colonel.
This was indeed a golden opportunity for him to establish his authority within the Navy.
Luffy rolled his eyes, too lazy to pay attention to those three old coins.
He leaped onto the platform and snatched the Den Den Mushi from Sengoku's hand.
"Ahem, well, let me introduce myself."
"My name is Monkey D. Luffy, the grandson of this old man next to me. Do you all recognize me?"
Luffy pointed to Garp picking his nose beside him, looking completely at ease.
The expressions on the faces of the crowd below instantly became a fascinating mix.
Wow, that's way too direct! Is he afraid people won't know he's a relative?
"I know you all dislike me and think I got my brigadier general rank through connections."
"Now, I'll give you a chance."
Luffy glanced around at the eager colonel-level officers below, a slight smile playing on his lips.